In Westminster, eyeing an urban oasis

Abandoned rail lines have long been the target of public officials and local activists who see the blighted stretches of space as opportunities for urban park space.

Westminster is no different. City leaders are seeking to turn an old rail line into an outdoor oasis, where paved cycling paths and manicured jogging trails weave through neighborhoods to the western edge of the city.

“In Westminster, land is precious,” said Councilman Sergio Contreras, who grew up in the city. “There’s no open space. So investing in the trail will have a greater return for our community as a whole. Creating open space and a safe place to spend with your family, or exercise, walk and picnic is an opportunity we normally wouldn’t have.”

City officials are eyeing $3.25million in federal funding to build the regional trail and park, according to city documents. They have committed to match $1.75million for the project if it moves forward. A delegation, including Mayor Tri Ta, is travelling to Washington D.C. this week to meet with local representatives to seek federal support for the trail and several other projects, including electric fueling stations for the Civic Center parking structure and improvements to underground pipes carrying the city’s drinking water.

The proposed trail system is still in the early stages and any development could be years off. But once built, the urban park land could connect communities and promote more people to be active, city officials said.

“It will help unify our city and provide outdoor space for our community,” Ta said.

The trail would be built on a 70-foot wide rail spur owned by the Navy and formerly used by Union Pacific Railway to transport supplies to the Naval Weapons Station in Seal Beach. The trail project is part of a $9.4million plan to upgrade all 24 parks in the city and is considered the largest investment in open space in the city’s 62-year history.

Since any ground breaking could be far off, no conceptual designs have been considered. Plans could include bike lanes and running paths with benches, lighting, manicured open space, even playground equipment, Contreras said.

“We need to find money first before we get too excited,” Contreras said. “It’s all a concept at this point. It’s all about re-inventing ourselves and giving people reasons to stay in Westminster, not move out. People leave because what they want isn’t there. We’re looking for ways to keep Westminster interesting and inviting.”

Garden Grove officials have been working on a project to turn a rail line used by Pacific Electric Railway into a paved, landscaped trail to encourage active transportation and better connect the city. The pathway would connect the Santa Ana River Trail to the San Gabriel River Trail, creating a regional cycling loop to the beach, said Councilman Steve Jones.

Westminster officials, meanwhile, have been working to get the abandoned Union Pacific rail lines turned over to the city. The land starts by a bike lane on Hoover Street near Hazard Avenue and stretches through the city and portions of Huntington Beach to Bolsa Chica Road. The project would include removing the rail tracks and cleaning up of the soil. For now, the three miles of track sits abandoned and blighted.

“The space is there, it’s about whether we choose to do something with it or not,” Contreras said. “Residents, I’m sure, would prefer to have a nice clean, well-lit park in their back yard versus a dark trail worrying about who’s going to jump over their fence.”